Template for locating collar insignia



June 22, 1954 z, SETQN 2,681,511

TEMPLATE FOR LOCATING COLLAR INSIGNIA Filed Dec. 29, 1952 ATTORN EYS Patented June 22, 1954 TEMPLATE FOR LOCATING COLLAR IN SIGNIA Phyllis Z. Seton, New Haven, Conn.

Application December 29, 1952, Serial N 0. 328,386

7 Claims.

This invention relates toa template for properly locating collar insignia, and has for an object to provide a simple and effective template which will properly and accurately locate insignia on collars of uniforms and the like such, for example, as officers insignia in the armed forces.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be used for-properly and easily locating all kinds of insignia of this character.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an officers shirt showing the template as used for locating the double bars of a captains insignia thereon, parts being broken away to more clearly show the use of the device;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the template removed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l

Fig. 4 is a view of a collar showing how the template may be used for locating the single bar of a lieutenants insignia, and

Fig. 5 is a top view of a template showing how it may be modified for locating different insignia.

As was formerly the common practice, an ofiiccrs insignia such, for example, as a captains or lieutenants bars, were worn on the shoulders, but now they are generally worn on the flaps or tabs of the collars of the shirts or jackets at the front, and it is absolutely necessary that the two insignia be accurately positioned and in the same relation to the edges of the collar. Thus, for example, referring to Fig. 1 in which is shown a shirt ll} having the regulation collar 1 I, the inner edge I2 of the insignia bar 13 must be parallel to the edge M of the front fiap of the collar, and this edge of the bars of the two insignia on the right and left sides of the collar must be accurately located the same distance from these edges of the collar and the regulation distance, and the top edges of the bars must be the same and the regulation distance from the top edges l5 of the collar. Otherwise the wearer is out of uniform. As in common practice the two bars are secured by a pair of pins [6 at the back, these pins must be pressed through the collar and then the two fastening buttons I! applied on the underside of the collar, as shown in Fig. 3, to secure the insignia in place. If no locating means is employed, this must be done by guesswork or the cut and try method in order to properly locate the insignia, and this may have to be done several times before they are properly and uniformiy located. This means that the two may not look the same, and in the attempts to properly locate the bars a plurality of holes may be punched in the collar, which will show later, even after laundering, and mar the appearance of the collar.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome these objections and provide a device which makes it easy to properly locate the insignia and make the two on the opposite collar tabs the same and accurately located. In the form shown it comprises a thin sheet I8 of relatively stiff material such, for example, as a sheet of transparent plastic, as, for example, acetate or similar material, thick enough to be fairly rigid, although it could be of any sheet material as metal, heavy paper, cardboard and the like. The edges of this sheet material id, 26] and 2| are shaped to correspond respectively with the shape of the edges i l, 15 and 22 of the collar. In other words, the shape of this sheet template is practically the shape of the pointed tab of the collar. From one edge (in the present instance the top edge 28) are cut one or more slots. In the form of Figs. 1 to 4 there are two slots 23 and 26 spaced to correspond to the spacing of the pins l6 of the insignia, and these slots lead to small openings 25, 26, 21 and 28, which are located with respect to the edges of the template in proper location of these pins with respect to the edges of the collar. Thus, for example, in locating a captains bars, as illustrated in Fig. 1, which requires two pins 16, one for each bar, the edge 12 of the forward bar according to regulations must be parallel to the edge It of the collar and located at one inch from it. The top edge [3a of the bar must be located the proper distance and according to regulations from the top edge 15 of the collar. Therefore, the two openings 25 and 25, which are used to locate this insignia, are located on a line 29 in Fig. 2 which is at right angles to the edge 59 of the template and therefore at right angles to the edge i i of the collar when the template is placed on the collar, as shown in Fig. 1. Also the two slots 23 and 2t, and the openings 25 and 26, are spaced laterally from each other to correspond with the spacing of the pins [6. Thus, in using this template to locate and apply this insignia, the tem- Plate is laid on the collar as shown in full lines 3 Fig. l, with the edges is, 20 and 2| lying along the edges l4, l5 and 22 respectively of the collar, The two holes 25 and 25 are now in the proper location forthe pins [8- of the insignia to properly locate the insignia, with respect to the edges id and it of the collar. The pins [6 are now inserted through the openings 25 and 26 and passed through the collar, and then the securing buttons ii are applied to these pins on the under side of the collar to secure the insignia in this position. Now the template can be withdrawn by shifting (as for example by drawing) it downwardly, the two slots 23 and 24 permitting it to be withdrawn from the pins It. To facilitate removal of this template the slots should be parallel to each other. Then it is reversed and placed onthe other or left hand tab of the collar, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the operation repeated. It will thus be seen that both insignia are thus easily and quickly located, and both will be accurately located in exactly the 7 same position with respect to the edges of the respective collar tabs.

In the case of the single bar, such as a lieutenants bar, 38, shown in Fig. 4, the edge 3| must be located one inch from the edge l of the collar and parallel thereto. In this case the two fastening pins 32 are spaced longitudinally of the bar adjacent its opposite ends. In other words, they are located in the six oclock and twelve oclock positions instead of the three and nine oclock positions as in the captains bars. Therefore, to locate this bar, properly spaced openings 2? and 28 are provided in the slot 23, or that is, this slot leads to these two openings which are spaced and located to correspond with the spacing and locating of the two pins 32. Now

after placing the template on the collar, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. l, with the edges [9, 20 and 25 of the template lying along the edges I 4, l5 and 22 respectively of the collar, this insignia or single bar can be properly and accurately located by inserting the pins 32 through the openings 2? and 28, applying the securing buttons I1 and then withdrawing the template as previously described.

If the slot 23 and opening 2! and 28 are not properly located with respect to the edges of the template and the collar to locate the bar according to regulations, another slot and holes properly located can be provided in the template.

Fig. 5 shows how the template may be modilied to locate difierent types of insignia. Thus, or example, an intermediate slot 33 may be provided between or in any other location with respect to the slots 23 and 24 leading to one or more openings at. Thus, for example, an insignia might have three pins located at the corners of a triangle, as represented by the openings 25, i i and it, or 2% and 3 with relation to any of the other openings. The template therefore may be designed and shaped and the openings with the slots leading from an edge of the template to them located to correspond with the location of the securing means for the insignia, either pins, as illustrated in the examples shown in the drawing, or for other types of securing means, such, for example, as the safety-pin type.

Thus, for example, with the leaf insignia for a major or lieutenant colon-e1, the securing pins from one manufacturer might be located in the six and twelve oclock positions, while those of another manufacturer might be in the three and nine ocloch positions. The template would therefore be made with the openings and slots leading to them arranged accordingly.

Thus it will be understood from the above that this template can be made from any suitable sheet material, and that it can be used for any type of collar insignia, collar decoration, collar badge, or collar emblem, and so forth, either military or civilian. It can also be designed to compensate for any divergency or variation in insignia made by different manufacurers, in the location of or distances between the fastening pins, by properly locating the openings and the slots leading to them to correspond. For'example, with the push-through type of securing means for the insignia, where the size of the exposed portion of the insignia usually remains constant, according to the specification of the organization using the insignia, one manufacturer may space the pins a fraction of an inch closer or farther apart than the pins of some other manufacturer, or use thinner or thicker pins as fasteners. Also there might be divergencies or variations of the location of the pins, and the holes and slots could be located accordingly. Thus, for example, one manufacturer might use two pins on the back of a majors leaf, one located at the twelve oclock and one located at the six oclock position; another manufacturer might put his pins on the same leaf at the three oclock and nine oclock positions; or difierent rganizations might designate different locations on the collar for their own specific type of insignia. As indicated, there may also be differences in the number of holes or securing means used for the insignia; that is, the template can be just as effective in locating one hole or two or more, depending on the number of fastening means used. Thus, for example, large collar insignia may sometimes have three pins and the template thus have three openings correspondingly located, with slots leading to them from an edge of the template, as described in connection with Fig. 5. Also, although in the example shown in the drawing, the slots leading to the pinlocating openings are shown as extending from the top edge of the template, it will be understood they could be run from any edge of the template, and after the insignia has been located and fastened the template can be withdrawn by merely shifting it in the proper direction to permit the pins or other securing means to pass through the slots. It is also to be understood that the template is not necessarily limited to the straight pin or push-through type of fastener illustrated V in the drawing, but it can be as effectively used for locating insignia with various types of fastening means such, for example, as the safetypin type of fasten-er. Still further, the template is not necessarily limited to being designed for locating single insignia, but as illustrated in the drawing and described, a plurality of openings and slots leadin to them may be provided in a a collar when the insignia is properly located thereon, and said member being also provided with one or more slots leading to the openings from an edge of the member, said openings being of a size to permit passage of the securing means therethrough when the member is placed on the collar to properly locate the securing means, and the slot or slots being of a width to allow passage of the securing means to permit withdrawal of the member from said means after the insignia is secured.

2. A template of the character described for locating insignia on collars, comprising a member of sheet material adapted to be positioned on the outer surface of the collar and having edges corresponding in shape and relative positions sub santially to adjacent edges of the collar to position the template on the collar, said member being provided with openings therethrough positioned with respect to the edges of said member to correspond with the location of the securing means on the insignia to be located with respect to the corresponding edges of the collar, and said member also provided with one or more slots extending from an edge of the member to the openings to permit withdrawal of the template from said securing means after the insignia has been secured in place on the collar.

3. A template of the character described for locating insignia on collars of garments, comprising a member of sheet material adapted to be positioned on the tab at the front portion of the collar and provided with adjacent edges corresponding substantially to the front and lower edges of said tab to position the member on the collar, said member being provided with openings spaced from its edges determinate distances from the front and lower edges of said member equal to the distances the securing means of the insignia are to be located from the corresponding edges of the collar, said openings adapted for passage and location of the securing means for the insignia to permit attachment of the insignia to the collar and to locate it in a given position thereon, and the said member also provided with slots leading from an edge thereof to said openings to permit withdrawal of the template after the insignia has been secured in place on the collar.

4. A template of the character described for locating insignia on collars of garments, comprising a member of sheet material adapted to be positioned on the tab at the front portion of the collar and provided with adjacent edges corresponding substantially to the front and lower edges of said tab to position the member on the collar, said member being provided with a plurality of openings including a pair located on a line spaced from and parallel to the forward edge of the member and spaced from each other to correspond with the spacing of the securing means of one type of insignia to be attached to the collar, and a pair on a line extending at an angle to said forward edge and spaced from each other to correspond with the spacing of the securing means of another type of insignia to be attached to the collar, the distances said openings are spaced from the forward edge of said member corresponding to the distances the securing means for said insignia are to be spaced from the forward edge of the collar, and said member also provided with parallel slots leading to said openings from an edge of the member to permit withdrawal of the template from the securing means after an insignia has been located and secured in place on the collar.

5. A template of the character described for locating insignia on collars, comprising a member of sheet material adapted to be ositioned on the outer surface of the collar and having edges corresponding in shape and relative positions substantially to adjacent edges of the collar to position the template on the collar, said member being provided with a plurality of openings for 10- eating and passage of securing means for insignia including openings located on a line parallel with one edge of the member and spaced from each other to correspond with the s acing of the securing means of one insignia and openings on a line extending at an angle to said edge and spaced from each other to correspond with the spacing of the securing means of another insignia, said openings being spaced from said edge of the member distances equal to the distances the securing means for the respective insignia are to be spaced from the corresponding edge of the collar, and said member also being provided with parallel slots extending from one edge to said openings to permit withdrawal of the template from the securing means after the insignia is secured in place on the collar.

6. A' template of the character described for locating insignia on collars of garments, com prising a member of sheet material adapted to be positioned on the outer surface of the collar and having spaced top and bottom edges and a connecting end edge corresponding in shape and relative positions substantially to corresponding adjacent edges of the collar to position the template on the front portion of the collar, said member being provided with insignia locating means comprising perforate means positioned with respect to said edges of this member to correspond with the location of determining portions of the insigne to be located with respect to the corresponding edges of the collar to locate said insigne while being attached to the collar, and said member being removable from the collar after the insigne has been secured.

7. A template of the character described for locating insignia on collars of garments, comprising a member of sheet material adapted to be positioned on the outer surface of the collar and having spaced top and bottom edges and a connecting end edge corresponding in shape and relative positions substantially to corresponding adjacent edges of the collar to position the template on the front portion of the collar, said member being provided with insignia locating means comprising an opening therethrough located with respect to the said edges of said member corresponding to the location of determinate portions of the insigne with respect to the corresponding edges of the collar when the insigne is properly located thereon and to cooperate therewith to so locate said insigne while being attached to the collar, and said member being removable from the collar after the insigne has been se cured.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,735 Fotens June 19, 1883 1,145,244 Hoffman July 6, 1915 1,405,083 Wilson Jan. 31, 1922 2,387,986 Evans Oct. 80, 1945 2,558,966 Lane, Jr. July 3, 1951 

